Friday, November 30, 2012

Items
in the Strangest Places
–It’s important to check your bags prior to traveling. If a prohibited item is
discovered in your bag, you could be cited and possibly arrested by local law
enforcement. Here are a few examples from this week where prohibited items were
found in strange places.

A
45. caliber pistol loaded with seven rounds and a round in the chamber was discovered
hidden under the lining of a carry-on bag at Charlotte (CLT).

A
two inch knife was detected under the sole of a shoe at Salt Lake City (SLC).

Two
belt buckle knives were discovered this week at Fresno (FAT), and Rapid City
(RAP).

A
cane sword was discovered at Baton Rouge (BTR).

Inert
Ordnance and Grenades Etc. –
We continue to find inerthand grenades and
other weaponry on weekly basis. Please keep in mind that if an itemlooks like a realistic bomb, grenade, mine, etc.,
it is prohibited - real or not. When these items are found at a checkpoint or
in checked baggage, they can cause significant delays. I know they are cool
novelty items, but it is best not to take them on a plane. Read here
and here on
why inert items cause problems.

A
live flash bang grenade was discovered in the checked baggage of a passenger at
Northwest Florida Regional Airport (VPS). Along with the grenade were 20 rounds
of improperly packaged 7.62mm ammunition. After a 42-minute evacuation, checked
baggage operations resumed.

An
inert grenade was discovered in a checked bag at Las Vegas (LAS).

Powder
Horn – A powder
horn with approximately 3 ounces of black powder was discovered in a carry-on
bag at Little Rock (LIT).

DIY
Gadgets – Do it
yourself (DIY) gadgets can often look like improvised explosive devices both on
and off the X-ray monitor. Please take a moment to think about what you’re
traveling with and how it might appear to TSA. You can read here and here about why homemade gadgets can cause
problems.

A
pair of shoes with wires attached to the heels (see photo) caused some concern
at LAX. It turns out the shoes are designed to store energy.

An
odd item was discovered in checked baggage at Newark (EWR). It was a piece of
cardboard folded in half with Styrofoam in the middle attached with wires to
aluminum foil on the ends. Turns out it was a contact switch for surveillance
video.

What
Not to Say at an Airport – Statements
like these not only delay the people who said them but can also inconvenience
many other passengers if the checkpoint or terminal has to be evacuated:

A
passenger at Miami (MIA) told the ticketing representative that he had a bag
full of dynamite. Five flights were delayed for a total of 4 hours, 56 minutes
affecting 1,027 passengers. The passenger was arrested on a state charge.

After
a gate agent at Orlando (MCO) informed a passenger she could not get her
checked luggage out of the plane, the passenger stated: “Well what if I had put
a bomb in it? Can I get it back then?”

Unfortunately
these sorts of occurrences are all too frequent which is why we talk about
these finds. Sure, it’s great to share the things that our officers are
finding, but at the same time, each time we find a dangerous item, the
throughput is slowed down and a passenger that likely had no ill intent ends up
with a citation or in some cases is even arrested. This is a friendly reminder
to please leave these items at home. Just because we find a prohibited item on
an individual does not mean they had bad intentions, that's for the law
enforcement officer to decide. In many cases, people simply forgot they had
these items.

Why is there not a system in place whereby you cannot purchase tickets without passing a small test on travelers protocol- What you cannot carry on any flight anywhere and how not to behave, air rage, intoxication, talk of bombs etc. ? I am sure some people are so dumb they would never think unless the obvious was pointed out.

why isn't there a system in place where you cannot be a TSA agent unless you have common sense, do not get power highs, and can act like a civilized human being to innocent people being pushed to the brink by a power drunk government too PC to go after the real problems......

Bob Burns (TSA Blog Team) said... The most popular posts are populated automatically based on the amount of page views.

...which is why you quickly get the 'juicy' stories off the front page- front page stories get many more views than second or third (etc) page stories. And then you can "honestly" say that certain stories "aren't popular" or 'obviously aren't important'... based on page views.

I wonder what would happen if someone made a script that would repeatedly load the juicy pages, thus driving them to the top of the list. Would you then change the definition of 'most popular' to ensure those stories stay hidden?

Seems TSA continues to impress people who choose to travel by commercial air. There is no way to know what indignity TSA will heap on the public from hour to hour and minute to minute. The TSA Blog had a commenter who promised to provide the rules people must abide by when transiting a TSA Check Point. Of course that person disappeared from sight after making that promise.

"Here's the latest example of an arbitrary, unnecessary and appallingly invasive U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) "patdown." I had the unfortunate experience of enduring such a procedure - which more appropriately can be called a sexual assault - on Nov. 25 at the Norfolk International Airport in Norfolk, Va. I was returning from Norfolk to Washington, D.C."

I see you are being disingenuous again, Bob. You tried to compare the Amy Alkon thread to one that has been up, by your own admission, for 4 years! (The date that is currently on that thread is 2010 so you must have reposted it.)

Further, the subject of what kind of razor blades are allowable is one that is of interest to many male flyers - can I take my safety razor or not?

Tell us how many views the Items in the Strangest Places or the Pen Pistol had compared to Alkon.

I can understand not being tech savvy but some of the comments here are just plain loony. The widget that populates the most popular blog posts based off of blog views in the past 30 days is created by Blogger. You can use it yourself on any blog using Blogger. Don’t believe me, start a blogger blog yourself and see the widgets for yourself. If you have a problem with the widget, take it up with Google. Google is a very independent company from TSA. Since you’re in a question & answering mood Bob, how do you keep from rolling your eyes?

The core of the matter is that the readers are not being told how many hits that thread got in the last 30 days when the thread has been up since 2008.

Bob has give us the number of hits over the lifetime of the thread."

This is not correct, the widget gives you the top 5 threads based on hits over the last 30 days, not all time. Many of the older threads get hits based on search engines pulling them out based on tags and subject searches. The list you see are the threads that have the most hits over the last 30 days. I hope that cleared up any confusion that may have been generated.

It's fairly obvious that you didn't understand the crux of the issue with the razor thread.

No one is disputing that the widgets count correctly.

The core of the matter is that the readers are not being told how many hits that thread got in the last 30 days when the thread has been up since 2008.

Bob has give us the number of hits over the lifetime of the thread.

screen shot

December 4, 2012 7:42 AM.................I think the bottom line is that Bob understood the question and in turn gave a disingenuous answer to the question.

Bob claims he didn't try to move the TSA Personal Attack on Amy Alkon off the front page when it is clear that is exactly what happened and he didn't give an honest answer to the question regarding the last 30 days popular threads.

This is a perfect example of why TSA is not trusted by the public.

Kinda like trying to get an answer to the question do TSA employees have to identify themselves when requested or if it is proper procedure for TSA employees to wear identity badges/cards in a manner to make them hard to be read.

I've not seen so much negativism against a federal agency. The TSA is no more corrupt or incompetent than other agencies. None hire the best and brightest and they a all protected by some union that guarantees immunity for dismissal. Management is advanced by their ability to statistically satisfy whimsical goals which are created by people that have little interest in effective organization.

Why should I give the TSA a break simply because they are no worse than any other Federal Agency? Why would I lower my standards for any of them? Wouldn't it be better to raise the standards and expectation for and towards the other agencies?

This blog is supposed to share information about TSA. If TSA is really committed to sharing information, why did TSA refuse to attend the House aviation subcommittee hearing last week? Given that Congress has control over federal spending, it seems that sharing information with a Congressional subcommittee would have been productive for all involved parties. Skipping the hearing suggests that TSA is not interested in sharing information--nor is it interested in coordination with other federal entities or in presenting itself professionally in its dealings with other federal entities.

Also, the guns, grenades, etc. could have been found with walk-through metal detectors. Groping, naked pictures, and radiation are not necessary to find such items.

Anonymous said...I've not seen so much negativism against a federal agency. Give the TSA a break.

December 4, 2012 6:51 PM

.........................Anon, don't you think there is a reason that TSA receives the negative responses from the public.

I didn't just wake up one day hating on TSA. A TSA employee tried to steal from me and I believe one was on the verge of hitting me but TSA management did not have the courtesy of responding to my complaints.

Heck, the public can't even get TSA to tell us if TSA employees have to identify themselves when requested. Is that an agency that is trying to work with the public? I think not!

TSA did nothing to answer my complaints and for that I will stay on TSA's case until either I can't write anymore or TSA is reformed.

Apparently it must have been two more cases of TSA employees following proper procedures since that is the stock answer from TSA on all complaints.

TSA has worked very hard to get the disgusting reputation it has yet TSA is doing nothing to change that reputation.

I guess the knife in the shoe story explains why my last trip thru security the arch inserts in my shoes were removed and crudely stuffed back in. I will fully concede that there may have been an issue on the X-ray that required additional screening to resolve. My only concern is that it was done behind my back. It was my understanding that if passenger items needed a secondary inspection the passenger should always be present to witness it. My iPad, iPhone and wallet were all right next to my shoes in the bin. Nothing was missing but what if I falsely claimed your screener took something? There was an overhead security camera bubble there so assuming it was recording the video would have shown a screener tampering with my property in the bin while I was waiting to be screened. Given the amount of theft TSA screeners have been accused of I find it idiotic they would have naively done that behind my back. Makes me wonder how often that has been done and I didn't notice.

"Port Authority cops on Tuesday busted a crooked 32-year-old TSA screener for stealing iPads and laptops from checked baggage at JFK Airport as part of a sting into the increasing problem of sticky-fingered screeners."

===========================

How is TSA protecting the public from the ongoing crime wave of TSA Thieves?

Why are TSA employees not searched when departing areas where they have access to others property. It is crystal clear that TSA employees cannot be trusted.

Why won't TSA acknowledge that a person who can remove something from a checked bag also could place contraband in the same baggage?

Many of our readers have asked if our officers are required to give their full name when asked by a passenger. Hopefully I can provide some clarification.

If asked, our officers are only required to provide their last name and rank. This information is printed on the nameplate on every officer’s uniform. Furthermore, supervisors, managers, and customer support managers are not required to provide the officer’s full name.

As far as the photo ID badge on the officer’s uniform, this is a badge that all airport employees must wear. It’s called a Security Identification Display Area (SIDA) badge. Basically, it’s a badge that allows employees access to non-public areas. One side of the badge has the employee’s full name on it. Many officers choose to wear their SIDA badges vs. a name badge. This is permissible.

If at any time you need to file a kudos or complaint regarding one of our officers, the only information you need for us to be able to recognize an employee or resolve an issue is:

Last Name/Rank/Date/Time/Location

Our officers have a right to privacy, and TSA has the responsibility of protecting our officers from the harassment that could result from revealing their full names.

Wait a minute, at some TDC stations passengers are required to state their full names, but TSOs are not required to give their full names. This is for privacy reasons??? And somehow this makes sense to the TSA? The privacy of the screener is more important than the privacy of the citizen?

"Anonymous said... If TSA had any leadership those leaders would know how to solve this issue. Issue each and every TSA employee an identifying employee code to be used in cases where the public needs to identify the TSA employee. Problem is that TSA has no leadership. December 6, 2012 11:39 AM"

This is a good idea. If the screeners are only required to give their last name and "rank" (don't you mean job title?), then they should provide their employee ID number or other unique ID number. You wouldn't want the "wrong" screener to get in trouble, would you, Bob?

Bob, thank you for answering the question regarding screeners being required to provide their last name and rank. Is this policy more, less, or about as well known among the screening corps as TSA's policy regarding filming at the checkpoint and TSA's policy regarding not stealing from passengers?

I'm concerned about the privacy rights for passengers. Why do we have to provide a photo ID that lists our full names to get through security? This check really doesn't do anything since online boarding passes can be easily photoshopped. The person checking ID's at the checkpoint isn't comparing names to any no fly list. Yet they get to see a passenger's name and likely their home address.

Why does a passenger have to give up so much personal information when a public worker has to give up so little? Statisically speaking, a passenger is far more likely to get robbed or assaulted by a TSA worker then killed by a terrorist.

If asked, our officers are only required to provide their last name and rank. This information is printed on the nameplate on every officer’s uniform. Furthermore, supervisors, managers, and customer support managers are not required to provide the officer’s full name.

So if an officer refuses and then walks away, the passenger is out of luck,as the manager doesn't need to provide the information

Thanks Bob for proving the TSA is a less than professional organization and tolerates less than professional actions by its employees.

Many officers choose to wear their SIDA badges so their full name is not visible. This is permissible.

Thanks,

Bob Burns TSA Blog Team

_______________________________

So, they do not have to wear a name plate, and can rely on the SIDA badge as ID. But, they can also obscure their SIDA badge so their name is not visible. So, they do NOT have to provide their last name and rank?

Other key TSA employees being recognized include the Employee of the Year, Denisse Ogata, PA, and Officer of the Year, Iwa Aki, TSO, both of whom could not be in attendance when TSA presented its Eighth Annual TSA Awards at the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort and Beach Club.

The presentations were handled by Robert Hansmeier, the Acting U.S. Federal Security Director.

Maria Bramel, TSO, was the recipient of the Team Spirit Officer of the Year; Cricket Pigao, LTSO, was announced as the Integrity Officer of the Year; and Roselani Wise, STSO, received the Innovation Officer of the Year award in the TSO Recognition category.

The Pacific Missile Range Facility, represented by Ensign Billy Newell, Installation Security Officer, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Honolulu Field Office, represented by Special Agent Pete Hoffman, were recipients of the Partnership Awards.

I don't know why everyone is making a big deal about TSA workers refusing to identify themselves. Even if you had all of the identifying information for that employee, what do you think is going to happen to your complaint? The TSA's own investigation will always say their employee followed proper procedure and did nothing wrong.

I still think it's wrong that a government worker who interacts with the public can refuse to identify themselves and conceal their name badge.

You do know, Bob, that the DHS OIG's complaint form asks for the full name of the person being complained about.

It's outrageous that screeners are allowed to get away with this kind of crap.

Maybe if they treated passengers decently, there would not be any worry about harassment.

To readers of this column, write your Congresspeople and demand that TSA be required to display their full name at all times. Send a copy to the incoming chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, Mike McCaul. His fax number may be found on his web site.

Mr. Burns, you must think that no one noticed how you had linked to a photo from an article about TSA theft, and then changed it to a more innocent photo.

Well, some of us did, and captured screen grabs of the previous post.

Will you own up to how you deleted and reposted one of your comments without incriminating links?

Or do some of need to go ahead with our screen grabs and letters to Congress about why the TSA social media team should be defunded at once, because it clearly provides no value to the American taxpayers?

(Sincere) thanks for the picture. I think people were getting "nameplate" "SIDA badge" and "name badge" confused.

If I understand you correctly, TSA screeners have to wear a "nameplate" pin on their clothes that lists their "rank" (job title) and last name? And that job title and last name is all of the employee identification citizens need to provide when sending comments to the TSA, our Congressional representatives, the airports, airlines, etc.?

TSA employees can wear a "name badge" (is that their employee ID badge?) or a "SIDA badge," but are not required to wear them while working at the checkpoint, and even if they wear them, screeners can hide these badges from members of the public?

So hypothetically, if I have an encounter that I want to comment to the TSA via their online or print form, all I need to give is

1. "TSO" 2. Smith 3. LAX 4. Dec 5, 2012 5. 11:45am6. My comment

and the TSA complaint department will know exactly who that screener is and will deal with that specific screener accordingly?

Bob, this is clearly the work of you and your boss, David Castelveter, who has publicly stated that he will do whatever it takes to promote the morale of the TSA clerk workforce. He has stated this for the record at the National Press Club (I was there.) and in other public fora. ("Fora" is plural for "Forum" -- look it up.)

You and your boss have dared us to continue to film and to post. That was a huge error in judgment, but one I would have expected from you.

The SIDA badge must only be worn above the waist and visible when in a SIDA area, i.e. outside on near the aircrafts. So wearing them so that they are not fully visible while working the checkpoint is permissible.

"All Airport personnel, in accordance with 49 CFR 1542.211, Identification Systems, and SFO's Airport Security Program (ASP), are required to display Airport-issued ID media when working within the Terminal complex of Security Identification Display Area (SIDA)."

Any place past the checkpoint in the "secure" area of an airport, not just "outside on around aircraft" as Anonymous believes.

"All Airport personnel, in accordance with 49 CFR 1542.211, Identification Systems, and SFO's Airport Security Program (ASP), are required to display Airport-issued ID media when working within the Terminal complex of Security Identification Display Area (SIDA)."

Any place past the checkpoint in the "secure" area of an airport, not just "outside on around aircraft" as Anonymous believes.

December 12, 2012 8:38 AM---------------------Look at your own post above: "Any place past the checkpoint...." As in AFTER they leave the checkpoint. Therefore IN the actual CP, they do not have to show thier SIDA. The CP itself is Federal and NOT subject to the various airport rules (which is why the airlines/airport can't interfere with screening). Once a TSO LEAVES the CP (away from the public side), they are required to show thier SIDA.

"...The CP itself is Federal and NOT subject to the various airport rules"

Wrong. The CP is NOT Federal. Airports are private property. Most of them anyway. Unless you are setting up some sort of Federal Preserve at each airport the CP can't be Federally Controlled anymore than a group of TSA Agents could say since they are three of them in the bar the bar is now federally controlled.